Golf-practice apparatus



June 23, 1925.

J. A. STEINMETZ GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1922' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 23, 1925. 1,543,401

.1. A. sTExNME-rz GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1922. sheets-snm 2' Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES.y

JOSEPH A. STEINMETZ, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GOLF-PRACTICE APPARATUS.

'Application filed March 2, 1922. Serial No. 540,598.

yPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, l have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Golf-Practice Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The object of this invention is to provide, independently of any golf links, and in a comparatively insignificant space, many of the conditions of ordinary playing, without annoying others nor losing time in waiting for them. It involves practice in the open air, automatic quick return of balls, and an indicating or registering target to show conclusively the line in which the ball has een driven.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of apparatus em-` bodying 'my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same devices, the top of the structure being removed. FFig. 3 is an enlarged section at 3 3,

Fig. 4 is a vertical diametrical section through a frame for supporting a registering sheet.

In these figures, A represents a slightly raised level platform for the player and B a light wood frame extending to anyl desired distance from the platform along the line of proposed drives, and having below in its medial vertical plane'a runway or trough C extending from the platform-to the region of the target, and having above approximately parallel but slightly diverging members. In the distant larger end portion of the` frame is a small transverse frame D for supporting a suitable target sheet. Upon the frame and trough, netting E is secured to form a large tu'be having along its llower side the open runway into which balls when spent will roll from any .part of the tube.

F ig'. 3 shows a target sheet F, and Fig. 4 shows a support for a fragile or recording sheet, this support being made up of concentric, frusto-conical. rings between which a ball'rupturing a paper sheet may pass, to then roll into the trough, leaving a record in the ruptured paper.

It is clear from the construction that a ball driven toward the target from the platform will be returned, whether or not it reaches the target, and that there is nothing likely to injure the ball, no matter how wild the shot, while at the same time such shots are as quickly returned as any others. Obviously practice is under approximately ordinary conditions, and it has certain advantages over actual play since the number of shots in a given interval is greatly increased without increase of fatigue, and since errors of certain kinds are disclosedby positive evidence and so are more quickly corrected. It is equally evident that the apparatus occupies comparatively little space and may be used where no golf course is available, or may be provided at any golf course, and duplicated if desired so that different people may practice simultaneously without annoying each other or other players.

It may further be noted that the frame being slight and the netting of large mesh, it interferes but slightly with the view in any direction; and further, that a roof H may be provided to protect the player from sun or rain.

The tube may have its lateral wall continuous with the top and lower sides, but the essential is that' no ball be permitted to escape fromqthe space within the walls except by Way of the trough, regardless -of the tubes construction.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a narrow upwardly open runway upwardly inclined from a pla ers stand to its own distant opposite en of a large netting tube open below and having its marginal portion up wardly inclined in opposite directions and continuous with the corresponding margins of the runway, a sheet closing said distant end, and means for holding the netting in proper position.

2. The combination with a fixed open, upwardly inclined runway extending from a tee stand to the vicinity o'f a distant target, of a large meshed netting tube .divided below and having upwardlyand oppositely inclined portions extending from the margins of the runway and forming above the sa-me a laterally closed tube in which golf4 balls driven in the' usual way may pass without'contact, a nettingsheet closing the end of the tube approximately at the distant end of the runway, and means for holding the netting in place.

3. The `combination with an open runway upwardly inclined from a player"s stand to a distant point, of a netting tube divided along its lower side, having its marginal portions secured to the corresponding margins of the runway, extending upwardly from said margins at all points and closed at its higher end, and a frame within the closed end portion of the tube for supporting a frangible target sheet.

4. The combination with an open runway upwardly linclined from a tee point to point distant therefrom, of a netting tube having its longitudinal axis above said runway, divided along the latter and secured thereto, and closed at said distant point, and a Jframe supporting the netting while allowing light and air to pass freely.

5. The combination with a suitable playv ers platform, a distant recording target, and a large, terminally closed tubular net extending from one to the other, of an in- @lined ball-returning trough leading from the region of the target to said platform and in open communication throughout with said tube.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOSEPH A. STEINMETZ. 

